Panaji: Tiswadi Block Development Officer Manesh Kedar has directed the Secretary of the Old Goa Panchayat to submit within ten days a detailed report on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues against the illegal bungalow built by Power Minister Pandurang Madkaikar at Old Goa.
The Panchayat Secretary has been directed to place the matter before the fortnightly meeting of the Panchayat and to take necessary action as per the provisions of the Goa Panchayat Act, 1994.
The Block Development Officer’s directions come after the Deputy Director of Panchayats Chandrakant Shetkar directed him to take appropriate action within four weeks on the complaint filed by Adv. Aires Rodrigues.
Adv. Aires Rodrigues on 16th April had served a legal notice on the Chief Secretary, North Goa Collector and the Director of Panchayats over the alleged illegal massive palacial bungalow built by Pandurang Madkaikar next to the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa.
In a joint notice addressed to the three officials, Adv. Rodrigues called for immediate action on the serious violation of law by Pandurang Madkaikar and his company Nikitasha Realtors Pvt Ltd.
Adv. Rodrigues in his notice stated that by a letter dated 9th April 2018 addressed to the Archaeological Survey of India, Goa Circle, he had drawn their attention that in total violation of law a very huge palacial bungalow has been built in survey No 144/1 and 144/2 by Pandurang Madkaikar within the prohibited 300 mts from the Central Protected Monument Basilica of Bom Jesus Church at Old Goa with the compound wall of the bungalow being less than 50 mts from the protected Monument.
Adv. Rodrigues further stated that in their reply the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by a letter dated 10th April 2018 informed that the ASI does not have the magisterial powers either for removal of encroachment or for demolition of illegal structures and asked him to approach the local authorities for further action in the matter.
Adv. Rodrigues also stated that on 10th April he visited the office of the ASI at Old Goa was anguished to be informed that the local authorities had taken no action against the illegality by Pandurang Madkaikar despite being notified by the ASI.
Adv. Rodrigues in his notice also pointed out that by a letter dated 3rd November 2015 the ASI had asked the Old Goa Police Inspector to register an F.I.R against Pandurang Madkaikar over the unauthorized compound wall of and that the copy of that letter was also endorsed to the local authorities including the North Goa Collector and the local Panchayat but that no action was taken.
Stating that it was incumbent on the authorities to uphold the law at all times and that they cannot turn a Nelson’s eye to the illegalities committed by the rich and influential, Adv. Rodrigues in his notice submitted that such a glaring violation cannot be allowed just because it has been committed by the very influential Goa’s Power Minister.
